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Serena Williams Returning to Tour

PARIS — After nearly a year away from competitive tennis, Serena Williams has confirmed that she plans to return to the circuit next week at the Aegon International Tournament in Eastbourne and then compete at Wimbledon, where she is the defending champion.

Williams, 29, was the sport’s dominant player a year ago when she won her 13th Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon. Four days later, according to Williams, she severed a tendon in her right foot after stepping on broken glass when leaving a restaurant in Munich, Germany.

She has since had two operations and in February was hospitalized in Los Angeles because of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in her lungs.

“I am so excited to be healthy enough to compete again,” she said in a statement released by her agent, Jill Smoller. “These past 12 months have been extremely tough and character building.

“I have so much to be grateful for. I’m thankful to my family, friends, and fans for all of their support. Serena’s back!”

Williams resumed practicing in April but later withdrew from the French Open. Williams has won Wimbledon four times, and her older sister Venus Williams, a five-time Wimbledon champion who has not competed since January because of a hip-flexor problem, is also expected to return for the grass-court season and attempt to play at Wimbledon.

Serena Williams, who could not be immediately reached for comment, remains the highest-ranked American woman at No. 25 in the world.

A version of this article appears in print on June 7, 2011, on Page B17 of the New York edition with the headline: Serena Williams Says She’ll Return and Defend Wimbledon Title. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe